The Belfast Education and Library Board today announced the appointment of the Belfast Schools Partnership (BSP), as Preferred Bidder for the Belfast Education and Library Board Strategic Partnership Project. The BSP consortium led by Amey includes three leading Northern Ireland construction companies (Farrans, H&J Martin, Patton Group) and three leading local architectural firms.
The initiative will see the launch of a new long term partnership to refurbish or rebuild many of the school and associated buildings in Belfast that are currently managed by BELB, to a potential value of £500 million.
The contract is an integral part of the £16 billion Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (developed by the Strategic Investment Board) which sets out a long-term, high-level view of planned investment over the next decade to improve the schools, roads, water, waste, health and office infrastructure of the region.
The first phase of the Strategic Partnership will deliver state of the art accommodation and facilities management services, provided by Amey, for four post primary schools (Grosvenor Grammar, Belfast Boys Model School, Belfast Model Schools for Girls and Ashfield Girls School) one primary school (Orangefield Primary School), and two nursery schools (Ravenscroft and Glendhu). The new schools will also provide new facilities for the wider community, for learning and community use both during and beyond the school day. Open days and evenings will be held at the schools to give staff, parents, students and local residents the opportunity to find out more about the designs
David Cargo, Chief Executive of the Belfast Education and Library Board said: “As the largest PPP project in Northern Ireland this is a significant project for the region and all those parties involved. More importantly, this major modernisation of the Belfast schools estate and provision of these exceptional learning environments, will allow the board to more fully meet its objectives in improving further the standard of education in our schools.”
Chairperson of the BELB, Jim Rodgers, said the board was striving to ensure the very best opportunities were afforded to the young people of Belfast.
“We have been working on this project for several years and are now delighted to announce the preferred bidder. We have always endeavoured to provide, not only the very best education, but best facilities for every child in the city of Belfast,” said Mr Rodgers.
“We look forward to the completion of this project and we have no doubt that the children, parents and staff will be delighted with the quality of these fantastic new schools.”
Mr Roger Dixon, Chairman of the BELB PPP Committee said "To reach the stage we are at today has required a great deal of both effort and vision from everyone involved.with this project.I believe that the successful creation of this Public Private Partnership will fully justify that effort and will deliver some of the finest schools in the United Kingdom for the children of Belfast”
Chris Fenton, Director, Amey, added: “This is a prestigious contract and we are very pleased to have been selected as Preferred Bidder. This is a great opportunity for Amey and, if we were to be awarded the contract, it would greatly add to Amey’s service offering in Northern Ireland. We look forward to the next stage of the bid process.”
Amey has recently been awarded provisional preferred bidder status for the Northern Ireland DBFO roads project and has won a 25 year contract with the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education to provide facilities management (F